Connacht Team Talk Thread VI - Some like it TOH

Ahhhh Boarders, ever the optimist 😀

I like to view the beginning of each season from a positive perspective and then have my misplaced positivity shoved unceremoniously where the sun doesn't shine as the season progresses. I'm fairly certain that this year will be no different.

Expectation: 44pts 11th

Hopes: 52pts 8/9th

Reality: 41pts 12th

Fears: 32pts 14th

Europe: couldn't give a flying f### run a few academy and young fellas. Maybe target 1 home game for the fans but don't lose sight of the big picture, the league.

Recruitment: Probably the single best recruitment period in Connachts history, we have signed 2 excellent players from Leinster in Murphy and Dooley and a potential Irish winger if he can stay fit plus 2 likely lads from the southern hemisphere and bolstered our 10/12 with a good young fella while retaining all of our decent players bar Arnold who I think we will miss. I can hear lads shouting what about Dillane!! But in fairness he's been short of average now for a good while. Also we have a great signing in Joyce for next year.

Friend: a hugely positive influence overall, I get the annoyance at the slightly blasé public responses to bad defeats however I think he's been an important steadying influence and has brought an attacking mindset to the club, recognizing that big set piece and defensive beasts are outside our budget and seeking an alternative point of difference, that it hasn't made us contenders doesn't mean it's failed, it has succeeded in keeping us where we have been for a decade. Job number 1 for any Connacht coach, don't become another Boarders. The team not the poster🤔

This season and last were always going to be a challenge with the draw rules, I think Connacht are right to use these seasons to prepare for next, hold our own on the pitch, renovate the ground a bit, drag in a few likely lads from Leinster and try to kick on to mid table next season under new management.

We aren't going to buy our way to success and we aren't going to grow it locally with the playing numbers, success is remaining in this league and starting every season with Hope.

Interesting to see six props on the team sheet.

Carty is the club captain for the coming season with Bundee and Butler as vice-captains

https://www.connachtrugby.ie/jack-carty-named-connacht-rugby-captain-for-2022-23/

Surely, Carolan and Muldoon could be tempted to return, in some capacity.

Peter Wilkins has just been involved in what is arguably Irish rugby's greatest achievement ever. People need to give him some space. If this season works out, one assumes that he will get the job.

Carolan has only been gone a year, and Muldoon is in his first coaching job under his former coach Pat Lam. Both need to get further experience, but yes, I hope that both will be back in the organisation at some point.

Full time Castres 57 - 19 Connacht. Not exactly what you want to see after reading Borders No.2's post above.

CONNACHT RUGBY SQUAD V SALE SHARKS

Friday 26th August @ Dubarry Park, Athlone (k/o 19:00)

15. Tiernan O’Halloran

14. Diarmuid Kilgallen

13. Tom Farrell

12. Shayne Bolton

11. John Porch

10. Conor Fitzgerald

9. Kieran Marmion

1. Peter Dooley

2. Dylan Tierney-Martin

3. Jack Aungier

4. Josh Murphy

5. Gavin Thornbury

6. Jarrad Butler (c)

7. Conor Oliver

8. Paul Boyle

16. Eoin de Buitléar

17. Jordan Duggan

18. Sam Illo

19. Darragh Murray

20. Oisín McCormack

21. Colm Reilly

22. Shane Jennings

23. Josh O’Connor

24. Charlie Ward

25. Bart Vermeulen

26. Donnacha Byrne

I'm prepared to 'wait and see' with regards to Wilkins move to Head Coach and responsibility for defence. We all remember how bad our defence was last year, but it really wasn' t much better under Wilkins from 17/18 to 20/21. Clearly Wilkins has something about him given his promotions through Connacht and his recent involvement with Ireland.

Our average points per game conceded last season was a shocking 28!! Obviously we know there were some severe hammerings exacerbating things, but aren't there always! With Wilkins in charge of defence for the previous 4 seasons, our average points per game conceded was 22 (see below).

Friend in DoR role does make sense for me in general, but it'll be interesting (and hopefully not disappointing) to see how it all works out this season.

Points against/# matches

• 2021/22: 502/18 = 28
• 2020/21: 353/16 = 22
• 2019/20: 360/15 = 24
• 2018/19: 394/21 = 19
• 2017/18: 477/21 = 23

Points for/# matches

• 2021/22: 399/18 = 22
• 2020/21: 396/16 = 25
• 2019/20: 302/15 = 20
• 2018/19: 475/21 = 23
• 2017/18: 445/21 = 21

I tend to agree, it’s obviously nice to come out of the blocks absolutely flying but it’s hard to judge where different teams are in the build up to a new season. Better to do well but wouldn’t read too much into not doing great.

More details here

Thanks for the report @connachta. Any thoughts on Booth, McCormack, Illo and Murray the younger?

Also hoping to see a lot of Jennings this season, if he is to play 13 his defence will need to have improved..

How was Hawkshaw at 10?

Completely agree with bolton 12

Hawkshaw played under huge defensive pressure but didn't seem afraid by rush defence

Booth ok D Murray very lively when on + lineout catches but needs to bulk

The rest did not play enough

One very bad (his 1st) the others held well